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PALM BEACH GARDENS – Professional golfers remember every win. But what stands out the most in their memory bank is where they won and who they beat.

That’s why Rickie Fowler was all smiles when he returned to PGA National for Tuesday’s Media Day in advance of next week’s Honda Classic.

Fowler, a Jupiter resident who lives 20 minutes from PGA National, won last year’s Honda Classic to give him his first “hometown” victory on a demanding Champion Courses where he was the only player in the strong field to finish double figures under par (12-under 268).

It wasn’t a Sunday stroll. He started the final round with a four-shot lead, but saw that margin cut to one after he double-bogeyed the sixth hole. But he made three long birdie putts on the next six holes to clinch his fourth PGA Tour victory.

“I love playing the Champ course with all the ups and downs,” Fowler said. “It wears you out mentally and physically. To have that win here last year was special. It’s really nice to be able to celebrate after a win at home. A lot of times we are traveling home or going to the next tournament.”

It was Fowler’s only victory of 2017, but the 29-year-old became a better golfer. He had top-10 finishes in almost half of his starts (10-of-21) while earning a career-best $6 million.

Last year’s win also marked the only time Fowler has converted a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour, a blemish he was happy to erase.

“I didn’t play my best in the final round, but I got the job done,” Fowler said. “It’s always nice to be able to bogey the last two holes and win by four shots.”

Of course, most area golf fans want to know if No. 550 in the world rankings – some guy named Tiger Woods – will be playing at Honda next week. Woods, who is playing in this week’s Genesis Open in Los Angeles that benefits his foundation, has until Friday afternoon to commit to Honda.

Will Woods, who is returning from his fourth back surgery, want to play consecutive weeks, with a six-hour flight in between? Will Woods risk doing anything that might jeopardize him playing in the Masters for only the second time in the last five years?

“I’m hoping he’s playing next week because this is a course he can play well on,” said Fowler, who hasn’t played a round with Woods since last fall. “He’s one of the best at controlling his golf ball and that’s what you have to do on this golf course. It’s great to see him healthy and pain free.”

Fowler is serious about trying to join Jack Nicklaus as the only player to defend his Honda title (Nicklaus won in 1977 and 1978). Fowler has already been studying the predicted weather for next week.

“The wind should be off the right on the 15th and in from the left on 17,” Fowler said, referring to the par-3 holes in the Bear Trap. “Both aren’t a lot of fun.”

At least Fowler doesn’t have to worry about being heckled at the Bear Trap by an overserved fan. “Luckily, a lot of them are on my side,” said Fowler, one of the most popular players on the PGA Tour.

Fowler didn’t defend his three previous PGA Tour titles, but he knows one of the keys is not to think he has to match opening rounds of 66s, as he has done the last two years.

“You have to try to reset and not look back and think, ‘I was already this many under par last year,’” Fowler said. “I know I can play well here, and it wasn’t just last year that I played well.

“Maybe I’ll talk to Jack and see if he can give me his winning secret.”

Going back-to-back with Jack would be even more memorable.

Craig Dolch is a TCPalm.com correspondent with more than 30 years of golf writing experience.